Maoists link to Telangana row?

Hyderabad: Top sources in the Home Ministry have told NDTV that they suspect Maoist hand in the escalating Telangana tension.

And the Ministry is very clear that some of them are also teaching and under the garb of human rights, are instigating students to carry on with violence.

Osmania University students, however, deny presence of Maoists on the campus.

The student who immolated himself on Saturday in the midst of a standoff between students and police at the Osmania University has died.

It was a day when Hyderabad shut itself down, almost by force by theAndhra Pradesh police. The security personnel turned most parts ofHyderabad into a fortress to ensure the 'Chalo Assembly' call given bythe pro-Telangana students did not succeed. Students were not allowedto leave the university campus, and one of them attemptedself-immolation. But in the middle of all this, the politicians have kept mum. (Read & Watch: Student sets himself on fire over Telangana demand)

It was a tragic twist to the Assembly siege that was planned by studentsof Osmania University. When they were not allowed to set foot outsidethe campus by a virtual army of securitymen, a student called Yadaiahset himself on fire and suffered 80 per cent burns.

The University remained on edge, with several incidents of arson and violence reported from in and around the campus. (Watch: Students intensify Telangana protests)

Commentingon Saturday's incident, Vinod Kumar, Professor, Osmania Universitysaid, "I am requesting the students, please write your exams andstruggle for Telangana. Don't struggle only for Telangana because lifeis very important for you.'' (Read: Osmania Vice Chancellor's car attacked)

Thestudents are trying to keep their protests alive by shouting slogansand also singing songs. But the fact that today's agitation did not getany support from any political party is perhaps an indication of thingsto come. These protests will now be seen more as a law and orderproblem than a political issue. (Read: 300 Telangana students detained for taking out rally)

Muchof Hyderabad, especially the area around the Assembly was turned into afortress, with some 20000 policemen and paramilitary forces on duty.None of the tension outside was however, visible inside the House,where Chief Minister K Rosaiah was busy setting a record. He presentedhis 16th Budget. (Read: Hyderabad turns into fortress as students protest)

Andas if on cue, all the MLAs kept their focus strictly on the facts andfigures of the Budget, rather than the anguish and emotion of the criesfor Telangana on the streets.

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